Community Wellness Response Team (CWRT)

The Community Wellness Response Team provides free, voluntary, in-person mental health and substance use) crisis support for people in Sacramento County. The program offers care and connection during difficult moments and is not a law enforcement or emergency response service. 

Need Support Now? 

Call or text 988  
Support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

What the Community Wellness Response Team Is and Is Not

The Team Is

The CWRT helps people through a mental health or substance use crisis by focusing on de-escalation, safety, and support. 

The program can help by: 

  • Listening with care and respect 
  • Helping calm and de-escalate stressful situations 
  • Creating a safety plan together 
  • Connecting people to mental health, substance use, and other community services 

Support is centered on the needs of the person. What counts as a crisis is defined by the person experiencing it. 

The program is designed to offer an alternative to calling 911 when the situation does not require law enforcement or emergency medical care. 

The Team Is Not 

The Community Wellness Response Team is sometimes misunderstood. To help clarify: 

  • The program is not law enforcement 
  • The program does not conduct welfare checks 
  • The program does not place people on involuntary psychiatric holds 
  • The program does not replace emergency services in situations involving immediate danger, weapons, or medical emergencies 
  • The program is not solely a transportation service. Transportation is available on a case-by-case basis. 

Team members have no authority beyond that of any other community member. Their role is to support, not enforce. 

If there is immediate danger to someone’s life, call 911. 

Who the Community Wellness Response Team Serves 

The CWRT can support anyone experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis who may benefit from in-person support. 

Services are: 

  • Free 
  • Voluntary 
  • Available regardless of insurance or income 

People always have the right to accept or decline services. 

Who Will Respond 

A response from the Community Wellness Response Team includes: 

  • A mental health counselor 
  • A peer support specialist with lived experience 

Team members are part of the community and are trained to provide non-judgmental, culturally responsive care. Their role is to support people and connect them to resources. The program is most helpful when someone needs support but does not require law enforcement or emergency medical intervention. 

How the Community Wellness Response Team Works

  1. Call or text 988 to speak with a trained crisis specialist
  2. The specialist listens and asks a few questions to understand the situation
  3. If in-person support may be helpful, the specialist connects the caller with a dispatcher from the CWRT
  4. A response team meets the individual at a location they choose, such as a home, park, or library

When the Community Wellness Response Team May Not Be the Right Option 

The CWRT may not be the right response when: 

  • There is immediate danger to someone’s life 
  • Weapons are involved and not secured safely 
  • A medical emergency is occurring 
  • An involuntary psychiatric hold is needed 

Community Transparency and Program Data 

The CWRT is committed to transparency and accountability. Program updates and data are shared with the community to help build understanding and trust. 

Community Wellness Response Team Video

Overview of the CWRT program

BHS Resources for Law Enforcement

Resources for Officers to use in the field